Device for discharge nozzles on cans

ABSTRACT

A screw fastener for thermoplastic nozzles on cans has a sleeve provided with an outer thread for receiving the screw cap. The sleeve, of harder material, is connected to the wall of the discharge nozzle. The lower face on the sleeve tapers outward and is separated from the surface of the can by an O-shaped compression ring.

United States Patent 11 1 Schiemann Jan. 7, 1975 [54] DEVICE FORDISCHARGE NOZZLES 0N 2,841,313 7/1958 Beall, Jr. 222/479 CANS 3,240,5133/1966 Turzillo 151/34 x inventor: Wolfram Schiemann, Eugen Nagele 1Strasse 17, 7140 Ludwigsburg,

Germany Filed: Apr. 1, 1974 Appl. No.: 457,055

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 210,063, Dec. 20,1971.

U.S. Cl 222/479, 15l/41.5, 222/573 Int. Cl [366d 3/00 Field of Search222/566, 567, 570,572,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1944 Grice 222/488 PrimaryExaminer-Stanley H. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-Hadd S. Lane A screwfastener for thermoplastic nozzles on cans has ABSTRACT a sleeveprovided with an outer thread for receiving the screw cap. The sleeve,of harder material, is connected to the wall of the discharge nozzle.The lower face on the sleeve tapers outward and is separated from thesurface of the can by an O-shaped compression ring.

13 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3,858,766

SHEET 10F 4 I WWI/1 PATENTED JAN 7 5 SHEEI' 3 (2F 4 DEVICE FOR DISCHARGENOZZLES ON CANS This is a copending divisional of my patent applicationSer. No. 210,063 filed Dec. 20, 1971 and bearing the same title.

The invention relates to a device for discharge nozzles having a screwcap for a cover.

and 30- litre cans are known, which are blown from thermo-plasticmaterial. Although they are much lighter, do not corrode, do not make aclattering noise, do not have to be regenerated, etc., they are notlikely to supercede the known 20-litre standard can, which is alsocalled a service can or jerry can. Before the authorities will allowsuch a can it must fullfil considerable requirements. For example, itmust not be torn open when it is allowed to drop, completely full, froma height of two metres at a temperature of C onto a steel plate. Theknown cans can withstand such a fall if they are allowed to fall ontothe almost flat surfaces or even the corners of the can. However, theyare torn open only too often and the cover loses its sealability if thecan is allowed to fall on its most sensitive point, namely the dischargenozzle in a full condition.

In addition, the nozzles could only hitherto be closed by a screwfastening whereas it was impossible to use the popular and known clawfastener.

The problem underlying the invention is to provide a discharge nozzlewhich will withstand such falls without losing the required scalability,which does not tear which can be basically designed as a claw fasteneror a screw cap, but which does not lead to those special solutions whichare unacceptable from the commercial view point, and which remainsstackable.

The problem is solved in accordance with the invention in that the canand the discharge nozzle are made of thermoplastic material, in that thewall of the discharge nozzle is rigidly connected by a connecting meansto a sleeve which is made of a substantially harder material than thethermoplastic material, in that the sleeve is hindered from rotation onthe nozzle, in that the lower face of the sleeve tapers outward and isseparated by an O-shaped compression ring from the face of the can fromwhich the discharge nozzle emerges, and in that an insert ring issecured within the nozzle.

Other advantages and features of the invention are shown in thefollowing description of preferred embodiments.

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a side view and partial section of the device according tothe invention;

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the device according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of an extended strip of spring steel;

FIG. 4 shows a front view of an insert ring moulded to an airevacutating pipe, as seen in the direction of the arrow B in FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 shows a section along the line VV shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a view in the direction of the arrow C in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a view similar to FIG. I, but in crosssection through thenozzle in the longitudinal direction of the can;

FIG. 8 shows a plan view in the direction of the arrow D in FIG. I,

FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 7illustrating a related embodiment of the invention employing a screwcap.

A can 11 made of polyethylene is provided with handles 12. A nozzle oroutlet 13 made of plastics material is moulded to the wall which can beseen in FIG. 2. An outer ring 14 made of an aluminium pressurediecasting, which is rigidly connected to the nozzle 13 in a mannershown in other figures, encloses and covers this nozzle. A cam 16 and alocking groove 17 on the outer ring 14 prevent the outer ring fromrotating relative to the nozzle 13.

A fastening lid 18 is connected to tongue 19 which is provided with anarched portion 21 forming a bearing for a transverse axle 22. As shownin FIG. l, the tongue 19 tapers to the left and leads into an extendedeye 23. Located in this eye is a transverse bar 24, the ends of whichare cast into triangular carriers 26, which extend parallel to and somedistance from one another and are integral with the outer ring 14.Therefore the lid 18 is securely mounted on the outer ring 14.

A claw 27 of known design acts as a bearing for the transverse axle 22.It 'is provided with two eyes 28 which are connected to the ends of thetransverse axle 22, then lead into a broad central piece 29 and arefinally deflected downwards and to the right in the form of an upwardlybent finger 31. The claw 27 is made of sheet steel in accordance withthe conventional method of manufacturing such claw fasteners.

Moulded to the outer ring 14 are two lugs 32 which have an uppertransverse web 33 and a lower transverse web 34 connected by a side 36.As can be seen in FIG. 2, the transverse web 33 is slightly lower on theside 36 so that a step 39 is formed between its upper face 37 and theupper face 38 of the transverse web 33.

The inner face 41 of the transverse web 33 is curved and extends in sucha manner that the rear side 42 of the transverse web 33 is larger thanthe front side 43. In contrast the transverse web 34 has a rectangularcross-section.

The two ends of a spring steel strip 44 are provided with slots 46 and47. The strip is slightly narrower than the transverse web 33 is longand is arranged at the exact point where the upper side 48 of the finger311 is in operation. It is approximately one and a half times as broadas the finger 31. The spring steel strip 44 is bent so as to follow theoutline of the transverse web 33, in which case the step 39 can alsobring the spring steel strip 44 into alignment with the upper side. Thespring steel strip 44 slightly overlaps the face 38. A headed rivet 49which is riveted into the transverse web 33 extends through the slots46, 47.

As can be seen, the spring steel strip 44 acts as a means of absorbingpressure. The outer metal ring 14 I can easily absorb the forces whichoccur when the lid is closed. Since the outer ring 14 is made oflightweight metal, it does not cancel one of the main advantages of plasticscans, namely the light weight. In addition, the method of light weightmetal injection moulding permits economic productin without the need forsubsequent work. The finger, which can never be entirely free of burr,would soon work its own way into the metaleye. Even before the fingerhad cut through completely, the claw fastener would be rendered useless,since the deeper the finger cuts into the transverse web, the more theclosing pressure between the lid and nozzle is weakened.

A roll, a ball or even a cylindrical body acting as a pressure absorbingmeans could also be inserted into the transverse web. However, the metalstrip is cheaper, can be thin and rigid, and cannot therefore losemobility as would occur with cylindrical bodies. In addition, the metalstrip takes on the exact shape of the eye and provides a bearing surfaceof large area, whereas line or spot pressure occurs with cylindricalbodies. The spring steel strip can be cheaply mass pro duced andobtained with a very hard surface. Fastening by means of a pin memberhas proved in practice to be very successful, in contrast to gluing,spot welding or other means of connection. Tolerances can be absorbed bythe slot and when the pin member is inserted, it does not need to bepassed simultaneously into the bore in the transverse web and into twoholes through the end. In fact the pin member can be easily insertedthrough the slot first and then forced completely therein when the twoother holes are in alignment. If the spring steel strip is adapted tocorrespond to the angular cross-section of the transverse web, thespring steel strip is almost completely adapted to correspond to thetransverse web on account ofits shape so that the pin member issubjected to little stress. Therefore the substantially positive ornegative thrust, which is exerted on the spring steel strip by thefingers when the fastener is opened and closed, can be simplycontrolled. The curved inner face provides a bearing surface of largearea between the finger and the spring steel strip. The device ischaracterized by low frictional force.

An insert ring 52, having an outer toothing of sawtooth cross-sectionwhich extends co-axially to the longitudinal axis 51, is located in thenozzle 13 and also extends co-axially to its geometric longitudinal axis51. This outer toothing 53 is associated with an inner toothing 54 onthe inner side and the upper section of the nozzle 13. If the insertring 52 which is a unitary moulding is driven into the nozzle 13, it canonly be removed by considerable force, which does not occur duringoperation, and substantial deformation. An annular flange 56 of theinsert ring 52, which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 51and the lower face 57 of which is supported on the likewise ringshapedface 58 of the nozzle 13, acts as a stop member during insertion. Agroove for receiving an O-shaped ring 59 which seals the corner sectionis provided for sealing purposes in the inner section of the annularface 57. To prevent the insert ring 52 from rotating, which can happene.g., when a screw cap is used, a projection 61 which engages in acorresponding recess 62 in the nozzle 13 is provided on the ring 52 inthe vicinity of the outer toothing 53. Naturally the projection couldalso be provided on the nozzle and the recess on the insert ring. Thisprevents not only the inner and outer toothing 53, 54 from being wornaway by friction, but also the O-shaped ring 59 and in particularprevents the evacuating pipe 63 from rotating, the inner end 64 of whichpipe is intended to point in that direction in which the known airbubble is subsequently formed when the can 11 is emptied. For thispurpose the pipe which firsts extends parallel to the longitudinal axis51 is provided with a bend 66 and then extends diagonally inwards anddownwards.

On the outer sideof the nozzle 13 there is provided a trapezoidal thread65, of which the flanks 67 being approximately perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis 51 act as supporting flanks. Located at the lower endof the trapezoidal threads 65, concentrically with the longitudinal axis51, is a protuberance 68 which forms part of an annular groove 69 inwhich a robust O-shaped ring 71 is secured.

The inside of the outer ring 14 is also provided with a trapezoidalthread 72 which cooperates with the trapezoidal thread 65 and the flanks73 of which are supported on the flanks 67, but have a slight axialclearance. When mounted, the O-shaped ring 71 is compressed by a skirt74 so that the flanks 67, 73 always bear against one another without anyclearance. Any kind of pretensioning means for pressing the outer ring14 outwards could also be used. The lower edge 76 of the skirt 74 isseparated from the nearest plastic sections by several millimetres.

A member 77 for preventing rotation which, in the preferred embodiment,provides a plastics nose 78 on the can 11 below the skirt 74 and arecess 79 in the skirt 74, is provided outside the O-shaped ring 71 andbelow the carriers 26. The cooperation of the trapezoidal threads 65,72, on the one hand, and the plastics nose 78 and the recess 79, on theother hand, is such that, just when the carriers 26 are directed towardsthe handles 12, the outer ring 14 is screwed far enough onto the nozzle13 and at the same time the plastics nose 78 engages in the recess 79.In this case the nose 78 is locked in the recess 79 at such a depth thatit can no longer be disengaged on account of the forces occuring duringoperation. In this case this snap action effect is obtained by pressingthe plastics nose 78, which is connected to a resilient surround,further and further into the can 11 until the recess 78 is positionedabove the nose.

The interior of the fastening lid 18 is provided with a sealing ring 81,the inner periphery of which is retained by a plate 82. The lid 18 hasan edge which is pulled downwards as shown in FIG. 7, the lowerringshaped face 83 of said edge being clearly separated from the upperface 84 of the outer ring 14. The upper face 58 of the nozzle 13 islikewise not in contact with the edge 85 and the same applied also tothe upper face 86 of the insert ring 52.

If the fastener is then driven in the direction of the arrow D in FIG.1, the force is transmitted through the resilient seal 81 and theannular flange 56 to the nozzle 13 which is reinforced by the outer ring14. The face 83 may only be supported on the face 84 in the event ofgreat force. Then, however, the outer ring 14 will make a small downwardmovement relative to the nozzle 13 in the direction of the geometriclongitudinal axis 51 and compress the O-shaped ring 71 a little more sothat the impact is also diminished in this case. As can be seen, thedistance between the edge 76 and the adjacent plastics sections meansthat when the nozzle is forced in the edge 76 cannot dig into theplastics sections lying below. However, if the skirt 74 were not maderigid, but of resilient material, it could be mounted on the plasticssections lying below and the O-shaped ring 71 could therefore becompletely or par tially saved.

Another safety device in the event of such a fall consists of providinga protuberance 87 which has a quarter moon shape as shown in FIG. 8, thepoints of the moon-shaped protuberance beginning below the lugs 32. Thebulge of the protuberance extends almost as far as the front wall 88 ofthe can. If the can falls on the fastener, the protuberance 87 snapsinwards thereby eliminating the force. This quick action device couldalso take different forms. It does not necessarily have to be in theform of a quarter moon, although the energy consuming action of such anarrangement has the advantage that the can may be more easily emptiedbecause the protuberance provides more favourable flow conditions andalso acts as a reservoir for the remaining fluid if the can is in aninverted position so that residuefree emptying of the can can be moreeasily achieved than before.

A side view of the straight face 88 can be seen in FIG. 1. Theprotuberance 87 passes smoothly into the surrounding face 88.

The invention may also be used for discharge nozzles which have a screwcap 90 in place of a claw fastener 18 as may be seen in FIG. 9. In thisevent instead of the outer ring 14 there is provided an outer ring 94,which has an outer thread 97. For the rest the outer ring 94 and theouter ring 14 are identical. The screw cap 90 has a flange 93 providedwith an inner thread 96, which cooperates with the thread 97 of theouter ring 94. The interior of the screw cap 90 is also provided with asealing ring 91, the inner periphery of which is retained by a plate 82.

The sawtooth-shaped inner toothing 54 of the nozzle 13 must be producedby turning. If only a surrounding groove having a circular flatcross-section is provided instead, this groove can be produced duringblowing. The insert ring is provided with a protuberance whichcooperates with the grooves. This embodiment can also be simply driveninto the nozzle 13.

In this case a flat portion can be provided instead of the noseprojection 61 so that the circumference of the insert ring 52 isrounded. An associated projection in the nozzle 13 then corresponds tothis flat portion so that rotation is also hereby prevented.

What is claimed is:

I. A blow-molded thermoplastic can having a blowmolded nozzle integraltherewith comprising an outer wall on said nozzle,

insert ring means secured within said nozzle in the vicinity of itsouter end for hindering the inward movement of said nozzle,

cover means for closing off said nozzle,

sleeve means of a substantially harder material than said nozzle andsaid can,

connecting means provided between the outer wall of the nozzle and theinner wall of said sleeve means for rigidly connecting the sleeve meansabout said nozzle for hindering the outward movement of said nozzle,

means for hindering rotation of said sleeve means on said nozzle ineither direction,

the lower face of said sleeve means being spaced from the outer face ofsaid can out of which said nozzle wall emerges,

downwardly projecting and outwardly tapering skirt tion of the geometriclongitudinal axis of the nozzle,

said cover means being screwed upon said sleeve means.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said insert ring meanscomprises an insert ring having an air venting tube rigidly connected atone end thereof and means for holding said insert ring non-rotatably andnon-slidably in said nozzle.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, in which on the inner side of thenozzle concentric with its geometric longitudinal axis there is providedat least one groove which is associated with a projection on the outerside of said insert ring, and in that said insert ring is snapfastenedinto the discharge nozzle.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 comprising a flange on said insertring supported in the upper face of the nozzle.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the cover means has innerthreads and said sleeve means has outer threads for closing engagementwith said inner threads.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising connecting means providinga positive connection comprising indentations and projections on thedischarge nozzle and said sleeve means which extend substantiallyconcentrically with the geometric longitudinal axis of the nozzle.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, in which the indentations andprojections form threads.

8. A device as claimed in claim I, in which said sleeve means is apressure diecasting which consists of a relatively lightweight metal.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said means of hinderingrotation comprises a groove and a resilient member on said skirt meansand on the face of the can, which are arranged substantially radially tothe geometric longitudinal axis of the nozzle, said resilient memberbeing snap-fastened in said groove when said sleeve means occupies itsoperative position.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which on the side directed awayfrom the handle means the nozzle leads into a protuberance in the wallof the can which is of such form and thickness that, if a force causesunallowable deformation of the wall or nozzle, the protuberance snapsinwards into the can thereby altering the position of the geometriclongitudinal axis of the nozzle.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, in which in plan view theprotuberance is shaped approximately like a quarter moon, the tips ofthe moon originating approxi mately below said cam means the and bulgeof the moon extending almost as far as the front wall of the can.

12. A device as claimed in claim 10, in which in the case of 20-litrecans the height of the protuberance opposite the uncurved face of thecan is approximately l.5 2 cm.

13. A device as claimed in claim 10, in which the protuberance leadsdirectly into the uncurved surrounding face.

1. A blow-molded thermoplastic can having a blow-molded nozzle integral therewith comprising an outer wall on said nozzle, insert ring means secured within said nozzle in the vicinity of its outer end for hindering the inward movement of said nozzle, cover means for closing off said nozzle, sleeve means of a substantially harder material than said nozzle and said can, connecting means provided between the outer wall of the nozzle and the inner wall of said sleeve means for rigidly connecting the sleeve means about said nozzle for hindering the outward movement of said nozzle, means for hindering rotation of said sleeve means on said nozzle in either direction, the lower face of said sleeve means being spaced from the outer face of said can out of which said nozzle wall emerges, downwardly projecting and outwardly tapering skirt means on said sleeve means spaced from contact with the outer face of said can out of which said nozzle wall emerges, O-shaped ring means between said skirt means and the surface of said can compressible in the direction of the geometric longitudinal axis of the nozzle, said cover means being screwed upon said sleeve means.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said insert ring means comprises an insert ring having an air venting tube rigidly connected at one end thereof and means for holding said insert ring non-rotatably and non-slidably in said nozzle.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 2, in which on the inner side of the nozzle concentric with its geometric longitudinal axis there is provided at least one groove which is associated with a projection on the outer side of said insert ring, and in that said insert ring is snap-fastened into the discharge nozzle.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 2 comprising a flange on said insert ring supported in the upper face of the nozzle.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the cover means has inner threads and said sleeve means has outer threads for closing engagement with said inner threads.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising connecting means providing a positive connection comprising indentations and projections on the discharge nozzle and said sleeve means which extend substantially concentrically with the geometric longitudinal axis of the nozzle.
 7. A device as claimed in claim 6, in which the indentations and projections form threads.
 8. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said sleeve means is a pressure diecasting which consists of a relatively lightweight metal.
 9. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said means of hindering rotation comprises a groove and a resilient member on said skirt means and on the face of the can, which are arranged substantially radially to the geometric longitudinal axis of the nozzle, said resilient member being snap-fastened in said groove when said sleeve means occupies its operative position.
 10. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which on the side directed away from the handle means the nozzle leads into a protuberance in the wall of the can which is of such form and thickness that, if a force causes unallowable deformation of the wall or nozzle, the protuberance snaps inwards into the can thereby altering the position of the geometric longitudinal axis of the nozzle.
 11. A device as claimed in claim 10, in which in plan view the protuberance is shaped approximately like a quarter moon, the tips of the moon originating approximately below said cam means the and bulge of the moon extending almost as far as the front Wall of the can.
 12. A device as claimed in claim 10, in which in the case of 20-litre cans the height of the protuberance opposite the uncurved face of the can is approximately 1.5 - 2 cm.
 13. A device as claimed in claim 10, in which the protuberance leads directly into the uncurved surrounding face. 